306 PERCHING BIRDS. 



are restricted to the New World ; while in spite of the fact that many species, as 

 well as families, range across the whole of the north temperate parts of the Old 

 World, from the British Isles to Japan, comparatively few families can be termed 

 strictly cosmopolitan. Among those families, which are variously represented in 

 almost every region of the globe, may be ranked the finch tribe, the swallows, 

 and the true crows. For lustre of plumage and striking combinations of colour, 

 the perching birds of the Indo-Malayan region excel all others ; but South America 

 possesses a larger and more varied assortment of these birds. Among the number, 

 tanagers and chatterers form specially interesting groups. While the mocking-birds, 

 represented by closely allied species in both the northern and southern divisions of 

 the New World, have the best claim to be considered the finest songsters in the 

 entire order, in Europe it is probable that the* blue thrush possesses the most 

 beautiful notes of all the passerines. 



In such a large and difficult group as the perching birds it is but natural to 

 expect diverse views among ornithologists in regard to classification. To a 

 great extent the scheme of Dr. Sharpe is here followed, which differs very 

 considerably from that recently proposed by Mr. Gates in the Birds of British 

 India. Without attempting to weigh the value of the two, the former has been 

 adopted, as being that more generally known. It will be obvious that in such 

 a vast assemblage all that can be attempted in the limits of our space is to notice 

 some of the more generally interesting types. 



THE CROW TRIBE. 

 Family CORVID^. 



Frequently conspicuous by a black or pied plumage, often variegated with grey, 

 and occasionally with brown, although some species, like the blue jays of South 

 America, are much more gaudily coloured, the members of the crow family form a 

 group which, while having few characters in common, are yet easy of recog- 

 nition. Possessing a stout and generally large beak, without a distinct notch in 

 the upper mandible, and generally straight, the crows have the chin-angle, or union 

 of the two branches of the lower jaw, almost always produced in front of the line 

 of the nostrils ; while the tongue is non-extensile. The toes are of the normal 

 passerine type, but although the first toe is strong, it is inferior in length to the 

 third. The nostrils are clear of the line of the forehead, and are protected by a 

 number of stiff bristles reaching to the middle of the beak, which are, however, 

 shed in the adult of the European rook. The wing always has ten primary quills, 

 and the tail twelve feathers. Mr. Gates, who includes the tits in the present 

 family, points out that the crows may be distinguished by having the first primary 

 quill longer than half the length of the second ; while the plumage is more or less 

 firm and glossy, and the length of the bill considerably greater than its depth. 

 Both groups agree in that the plumage of the two sexes is alike, and undergoes but 

 one moult (in the autumn) ; while the plumage of the young is paler. 



Some representatives of this specialised family are found in all the great 

 continents ; and even islands have in some cases their peculiar species. The piping 



